It appears that former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman isn't keen on a committed run at 185 pounds moving forward.
Fans most recently saw Usman at heaviest weight to date, as he made his middleweight debut on short-notice at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi last October.
Seven months on from narrowly falling short of regaining the 170-pound belt in his trilogy fight against Leon Edwards, "The Nigerian Nightmare" answered the late call to replace Paulo Costa against Khamzat Chimaev on less than two weeks' notice.
Usman put in a valiant effort but was ultimately unable to blemish the Chechen star's perfect record, with "Borz" having his hand raised at Etihad Arena by way of majority decision.
The veteran former titleholder's future has been somewhat uncertain since, especially with three-time opponent Edwards remaining on the welterweight throne.
Now, though, it seems that Usman is honing in on a weight class and a few names...
Usman: Next Opponent Likely One Of Rakhmonov, Garry, Della Maddalena, Muhammad
During a recent appearance on the Anik & Florian Podcast, Usman provided an update on his current status, outlining that his focus is on getting back to 100 percent physical health before making the walk again.
And when he does feel the Octagon canvas beneath his feat for the 19th time, the former champ is seemingly hoping to be back down in the familiar surroundings of the welterweight division.
It's an interesting spot, very different. I've never been in a spot like this where it's just, 'Hey, just get back. Pick wherever you wanna go and just get back,'" Usman said. "For me, I made my career being a welterweight. I never thought middleweight. Obviously when that possibility of potentially getting a second belt — yeah, I thought about it.
But besides that, welterweight just seems to be the way where I have been, where I'm comfortable, even though for the right fight, middleweight makes sense, no doubt about that. ... 170, or 185 if it makes sense.
With the welterweight roster seemingly back in his crosshairs, Usman was asked whether he expects his next rival to come from a shortlist of four major names — Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Garry, Jack Della Maddalena, and Belal Muhammad. He responded with a simple, "Yes."
Usman has previously enquired with the fans about which weight he should make his return at. While plenty were backing a fresh chapter at 185 pounds, it seems "The Nigerian Nightmare" isn't ready to bid farewell to his longtime divisional home.
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